Plot to incite riots in Kyiv thwarted by Ukrainian security forces
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that they managed to detain a group of provocateurs who planned to incite riots in Kyiv. This was supposed to happen right after the celebration of Constitution Day. The group was led by the co-founder of a non-governmental organization known for its anti-Ukrainian activities since 2015.
The statement published on Telegram explains that the provocateurs, under the guise of organizing a "rally," intended to announce the "removal from power" of Ukraine's current military and political authorities. Their plan then involved taking over the building of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, and blocking its activities.
They planned to gather a large number of people
The SBU reported that the provocateurs planned to gather a large number of people in downtown Kyiv under a false pretext. They then intended to provoke the gathered individuals into riots and "spread information about (alleged) disturbances in Kyiv through domestic and foreign news channels."
The main organizer intended to involve several accomplices in his plan. These were representatives of non-governmental organizations from Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions of Ukraine, who communicated with each other "for conspiratorial purposes" and met in small groups of three people.
They face 10 years in prison
During the searches conducted by the SBU in the apartments of the detained provocateurs, numerous pieces of evidence of their criminal activities were found. Among them were weapons and ammunition, cellphones, computer equipment, and recordings documenting their actions.
Currently, an investigation is underway to determine the crime's circumstances and bring the perpetrators to justice. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and the confiscation of property.
